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Small Victories: When The Means Guarantee The Ends

What makes a big success? What’s the difference between large
and small victories? And, is success an attitude or is it a process? Find out now...

Achievement is often equated to a singular event in which
something good and substantial occurs. When these important events happen, we feel elated and in tune with the world
around us. When they don’t, especially when we expect what that big thing is and when
it should happen, we can be left feeling angry, resentful, and confused. There
is a sense of alienation that begins to creep in - when we believe we’ve been
cut off from results, we often believe that we must be on the wrong path.

At what point do we consider ourselves winners? When the
victory has already passed? When it is at the peak of the moment? Or before the
event has even occurred? We know that professional athletes do what is often
called visualization. They imagine themselves performing before they’re even on
the field. They imagine in their minds each successful twist and turn that
leads up to and creates in its totality the achievement of which they imagine
themselves having attained. With that said, achievement isn’t only a result -
achievement is a process.

Processes are a series of steps taken in order to achieve a
result or end. I know, I know - I hear many of you saying and have heard you
say in person at The Shmooz, “But I’ve done everything right and I still
don’t get the results I want.” Let’s ask some honest questions here: Have
you really done everything “right”?
And, why are you disappointed that the process you went through guaranteed the
results you currently experience? You succeeded - in getting an unexpected
result. In other words, we get so caught up on the results and the big
victories that we disconnect the fully manifested result from the cumulative
process. When this disconnect happens, we overlook the importance of the
processes - the steps, the attitudes, and the small victories - that is
actually the achievement in and of itself. This is when we try to take short
cuts, cut corners, ignore our needs and the needs of others, and try to win big
at all costs.

Take the analogy of a redwood tree in all its gigantic glory. At
what point does one decide when a redwood tree is impressive and beautiful? Was
it when it was a seed? Or, when it made its way through the soil or when it
surpassed trees of normal height? Or, when it finally reached its maximum
height? Some amongst us might even be disappointed that the giant redwood
didn’t get as big as expected - maybe by a few meters. These questions also are
aimed to ask ourselves at what point do we decide that we’re successful and
victorious?

What if professional success isn’t one giant moment in which
everything “magically” aligns and when everyone else recognizes us? What if,
instead, success is in being, not in having? I hear many coaching clients tell
me, “I’ll be happy when…” and “When I see that result, then I’ll turn around
my attitude…”. Delaying the habitual work of success forever places it into
the future. So, why not now?

I’ve heard other clients say, “It’s cool that this (event) happened… but I still can’t make ends meet…
what’s in it for me.” These individuals can’t mindfully acknowledge, let
alone be grateful for something good that has just happened for them.They rather focus on what is lacking instead
of being grateful for the small victory that they just experienced. What good
does it serve to work with professionals who can’t notice success - even if it
hit them in the face? Small victories are opportunities for more success. If
you can’t be in the frame of mind to recognize success, then how can you
possibly be one?

Successful companies are process oriented, seeing success is
attainable in every step, not just in the big payoff. And, successful
professionals want to work with other people who recognize success in every
form (big and small). Because success is both an attitude and an eternal
process of learning and opportunity.

To answer the questions about the redwoods - what if the
redwood was glorious at every stage? Because the redwood doesn’t say to itself
- I’ll be happy when I’ve reached 380
feet. It honors itself where it is in its growth stage, not just in its
maturity.

Coach Leslie
Juvin-Acker’s Questions To Ask Ourselves

?So how about you? At what point in your career have you
considered yourself a success?

?What were those big victories? What about the
overlooked small ones?

?Are you process oriented or do you look at the end
result to judge your process?

?What do you consider small successes? Big successes?

?Do you overlook the process in an attempt to attain
specific results?